Still, it made a hole big enough to be uncommonly
painful; the more so because it gave it a frightful wrench as the man
dropped the lance. However, there is nothing to grumble at; and I may
consider myself lucky indeed to have got off with a flesh wound when
so many good fellows have fallen."
"Yes, considering the number engaged, the losses have been terribly
heavy," the major said. "It looked very bad for a time."
"That it did," O'Connor agreed. "That's what comes of fighting with
little mongrels by the side of you. It's always been the case when we
get mixed up with other nationalities. Look at Fontenoy, look at
Talavera. If I were a general I would simply fight my battles in my
own way with my own men. If any allies I had liked to come up and
fight on their own account, all the better; but I wouldn't rely upon
them in the very slightest."
"The Belgians and Dutch fought very fairly at the beginning,
O'Connor."
"Yes, I will admit that. But what's the good of fighting at the
beginning if you are going to bolt in the middle of a battle? If we
had had two or three regiments of our own cavalry, it would have made
all the difference in the world; but when they went off, horse and
foot and left our division alone to face the whole force of the enemy,
I hardly even hoped we should hold our ground till Alten came up.
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